History of the Eaglehawk Courthouse & Log Lockup

Gold was discovered in the Bendigo region in 1851 and the prosperous Eaglehawk diggings were opened the following year.

In the earliest days there was no law and order on the goldfields and the miners were a wild and unruly lot. In an effort to enforce some type of control, Commissioners camps were set up at both Eaglehawk Flat and Myers Flat and around 1857 lock ups, constructed of local timber, were erected.

The Myers Flat 'Logs' have not survived the passing of time, but the 'Logs' at Eaglehawk remain in excellent condition. As part of a community project in 1970 they were relocated from the rear of the Eaglehawk police station to their current location in Sailors Gully Road.

Offenders often chose the option of paying for their crime by spending time in the 'Logs' and one wonders what tales it's silent walls could tell.

The imposing red brick court house was completed on the 5th September 1869 at a cost of £1,480.00 and was built to replace a timber structure that was no longer suitable. Cases were heard at the Eaglehawk town hall for a time while the new facility was undergoing construction. Designed by architects, H.A. Williams and Peter Kerr, the architecture of the Eaglehawk Court House is not typical of Victorian Court Houses and as such attracted the interest of Heritage Victoria. It's position within an intact group of ninteenth century civic buildings also added to it's appeal.

The court house and adjacent Log Lockup were listed on the Victorian Register in the 12th February 1998.

Cases from the Borough and surrounding district were heard by a Police Magistrate or local Justices of the Peace [often the Mayor and another local Councillor]. They were unswerving in dispensing justice to those who broke the peace.